Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

Last weekend in Carlow there was a gangland shooting. I had warned about such worrying developments in the House. It is time that we had a debate in the House on the availability of firearms and the failure by the Government to address the growing drug problem in the country and the need to provide extra resources to address this issue. I ask the Leader to organise a debate on it and request that the relevant Ministers attend the House. Unfortunately, drugs are no longer a problem simply for city areas, since they are now rampant everywhere. Towns such as Carlow are suffering from the success of drug operations in Dublin, since the criminals have now moved operations to surrounding areas.

Perhaps, after the local elections on 11 June, the Leader might organise a debate in the House on the election process. The idea of postering is becoming farcical. We have all learnt when canvassing that the register of electors is totally out of date in many areas. There must be a better system. I am not sure what it is, but I would recommend the use of the PPS number, which is unique to each individual. Making people attend Garda stations——